Many were fearfully wondering whether the Pittsburgh Steelers trade for Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Brandon Boykin signified that rookie 2nd-round pick cornerback Senquez Golson's shoulder injury was worse than some thought. Well, those fears have been confirmed. According to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers "are considering several options for rookie cornerback Senquez Golson, including having him undergo season-ending shoulder surgery".
Golson has been on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list since the start of training camp on July 25. He was apparently fine in spring practices but complained to trainers about his shoulder during those practices. Boykin, like Golson, plays primarily as a slot cornerback.
Boykin is one of the best, if not the best, slot cornerbacks in the NFL. Pro Football Focus rated him as the number 21 overall cornerback in the league last year and ranked 19th in coverage. The Steelers traded a conditional 5th round pick to the Eagles for him which will turn into a 4th round pick if he plays in 60 percent or more of the Steelers' defensive snaps.
Golson and Boykin are both under 5'11" with Golson being 5'9" and Boykin being 5'10" respectively. Although he lacked height, Golson was a major play-maker for Ole Miss' "Land-shark" defense last year, finishing second in the nation in interceptions with 10. Interestingly enough, the first place finisher was Louisville safety Gerod Holliman, whom the Steelers took in the 7th round in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Golson is also a star baseball player, and was selected by the Boston Red Sox as an outfielder in the 8th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. They even offered him a $1.35 million signing bonus, but he declined and stuck to football. Boykin's contract ends after this season, and Golson's health will no doubt play a major factor in whether the Steelers choose to re-sign him or not.